Parliamentary panel quizzes police chief over gang-rape

New Delhi, Dec 27 (IANS) A parliamentary panel Thursday quizzed Delhi Police chief Neeraj Kumar on the steps needed to make women more safe in the city, ensure speedy trial in rape cases and effectively patrol the streets, sources said.

Union Home Secretary R.K. Singh, who was also summoned by the parliamentary standing committee on home affairs, could not attend the meeting, they said.

The panel summoned the two officials in view of the Dec 16 gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman in a moving bus here. She is battling for life in a Singapore hospital.

According to sources, the panel asked the police chief to suggest steps to make the city more safe for women, ensure quick rape trials and make the laws more stringent.

Neeraj Kumar recounted the sequence of events of the ghastly crime and told the panel that police control room vans responded quickly after being informed about the incident.

The panel also took note of the shortage of officers and vehicles for effective patrolling.

Congress MP Sandeep Diskhit, who represents East Delhi Lok Sabha constituency and is the son of Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit, pointed out that there was a disconnect between the senior and lower rung police officers.

The chief minister has been demanding that Delhi Police, who function under the home ministry, be brought under the control of the city government.

The panel also sought clarification on related issues from the home and law ministries and would review them in the next meeting in the first week of January 2013, said the sources.